From 10 July in the European Union the maximum tariffs for downloading roaming data will be cut by more than half: from 45 to 20 cents per Mb. For those traveling to EU countries, it will cost even less to consult maps, watch videos, check email and update content on social networks. For fans traveling during the World Cup, data roaming will cost 25 times less than for the 2010 World Cup.
The Commission notes that since the price caps were introduced, data consumption has increased significantly. Calls and text messages will also be cheaper.
The ceilings in 2013 for making a call in the EU with a mobile phone were 24 cents per minute excluding VAT, in 2014 it was 19 cents (-21%); to receive a call 7 cents and 5 cents respectively (-28,5%); to send an SMS 8 cents and 6 cents (-25%); to download data and navigate 45 cents per MB and 20 cents (-55,5%).
From 10 July, mobile telephone operators in Europe will be able to offer special conditions for roaming services to those planning to travel, allowing, in some cases, to choose a local operator in the country of destination for data services such as sending and receiving emails, consulting online news, upload photos and play online videos.
Those who are traveling will thus be able to compare roaming offers and choose the most convenient offer and rate, reports the European Commission which recalls how the executive is "working on new rules to completely eliminate roaming rates". In 2007, when the EU started to take action, roaming charges were at their highest. Since then, roaming costs have dropped by 80-90%.
